I am from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and we are known for good food and maybe you have heard the term “Cajun” well, that is how we do things with a touch of the south. So come and join us and “Let the Good Times Roll” (“Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez”)

If you are a beginner or someone who needs a refresher course plan on joining us for fun and education. We use the latest USDA guidelines and will instruct you how to can safely and make a beautiful product.

All the wonderful fruit that is available in the summer at a reasonable price why not save a taste of summer when it is cold and windy here in the valley? We are using the seasonal fruits available to make juicy jellies and jams.

All equipment, utensils, and spices will be provided as well as canning jars and lids. Each participant will be working hands-on and learn by doing. Each will go home with a share of the completed jars produced and we will have recipes and information that were used in your class for you to take home.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Alright, folks! I just spoke with our Honey Man, and it seems that honey is a go! And of course, due to being in both LV and Utah, we are officially serving both areas!! We'll give this order about a month to spread word and let everyone take advantage, so let's shoot for a payment due by August 20th. The honey we order is raw, comes from Wyoming, and is $30 for a gallon (or between 10 and 12 pounds). This price is the cheapest I have found (by far) for raw honey, and I've ordered through them for 3 years now - best honey ever!

A short word about raw honey: Raw honey is unheated, unpasteurized, and unprocessed. Pure honey straight from the hive. In its raw form, honey is reportedly more nutrient dense, and has many healing benefits as it is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. Many people try to relieve allergy symptoms by eating local, raw honey. Oh, and one more thing - honey's storage capacity is fantastic. It has been found in Egyptian tombs in a readily edible state - don't ask me who decided to try it, but apparently, it was still good. :) If your honey crystallizes, just warm it up until the crystals melt back into liquid form. Raw honey is more solid than liquid and will have to be warmed to pour like honey from the store. But, it is well worth the extra effort!

So, let me know if you'd like to order this - in the past, I'd let you drop by cash, but since most of you will have to send it to me, I added the option of paypal over the internet. So, now you can send me cash or check, or you can pay me through paypal {email me at poohnda(at)hotmail(dot)com to sign up for the order, and I'll send you my address or paypal info}. Let me know if you have any questions regarding this order, I'd be more than happy to try to answer you. :)

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Disclaimer: **This is not a complete list (yet), just a list of the ones that I know of. PLEASE let me know if you would like to be added to the list or if there are other active locations. Click here for my contact information.**

Our 2nd Food Preservation Workshop will be Saturday, August 20th. We will feature Cowboy Trail Farm’s Organic Cucumbers and Peppers and teach a variety of ways to preserve them so they can be enjoyed year round.

All equipment, utensils, and spices will be provided as well as canning jars and lids. Each participant will have hands-on experience and go home with a share of the completed jars.

US Farmers Markets "Discover You Can" Program Teaches Consumers Benefits and Ease of Home Canning

Fresh52 farmers market will be paying it forward this summer with fresh ideas to help support farmers and the local food community in the Discover You Can℠ Program, a home canning education program.

The Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) and Jarden Home Brands, a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation and makers of Ball® Brand Fresh Preserving Products, have granted 50 farmers market members of the FMC, educational and promotional materials for respective members to provide an instructional canning program within their local community. The Discover You Can℠ Program supports awareness of the benefits of canning for healthy, sustainable living and provides tools to support educational programs that illustrate the three simple steps of safe home canning processes.

Recently, home canning was named the #1 food trend according to The Food Channel. Clearly, canning is a hot topic for a growing number consumers and fresh preserving also ties closely to farmers that provide access to fresh, locally grown food in their respective communities.

“The exciting aspect of this program is that it offers farmers markets an innovative opportunity to meet their missions to educate communities and support farmers, says Stacy Miller of the Farmers Market Coalition. “Discover You Can"℠ arms participants with the tools, ideas, and funding, but letting markets bring canning to life through their own creativity and market needs.”

Learn how to can from the experts and enjoy a summer of new tastes and recipes. Visit Fresh52 now through Labor Day and discover you can! Visit www.fresh52.com for a schedule of local activities, or FreshPreserving.com for additional information about the 2011 Discover You Can℠ program. Supporting your local farmers market helps ensure your community will have healthy, flavorful food for generations to come.

Starting July 2nd, Fresh52 in Tivoli Village will be adding a cool, clean air conditioned indoor section "The Walk In" at the farmers market every Saturday. Chefs, foodies, one and all. Enjoy the magnificence of the Local Fresh Perishable Food Items Every Season in Purveyors selling fresh produce and specialty foods indoors.

I am from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and we are known for good food and maybe you have heard the term “Cajun” well, that is how we do things with a touch of the south. So come and join us and “Let the Good Times Roll” (“Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez”)

If you are a beginner or someone who needs a refresher course plan on joining us for fun and education. We use the latest USDA guidelines and will instruct you how to can safely and make a beautiful product.

All the wonderful fruit that is available in the summer at a reasonable price why not save a taste of summer when it is cold and windy here in the valley? We are using the seasonal fruits available to make juicy jellies and jams.

All equipment, utensils, and spices will be provided as well as canning jars and lids. Each participant will be working hands-on and learn by doing. Each will go home with a share of the completed jars produced and we will have recipes and information that were used in your class for you to take home.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Hey everyone! I'm so sorry it's been so long since you've heard from me; I planned on having our own internet up and running by now, but one thing we failed to realize is that, in rural areas, internet comes a LONG way, if it even makes it out there at all. Luckily, we can get internet, we just have to schedule it WAY in advance. On the bright side, though, we now have contacts from Cedar City, St. George, on down to Las Vegas. So, if you know of anyone interested in food storage, or great quality, fresh produce in bulk, let me know and we'll forward the information on.

I've been getting lots of emails inquiring about peaches this year, and I want to assure everyone that, yes, we do have peaches coming! Both varieties (O'Henrys and Elbertas) are expected to be fully ripened by around late August. I'll keep everybody updated as far as that goes. Please let me know if you do not check your email often and would like to be sent a text or phone call. I will try to arrange that for the tech challenged (please, though - I prefer email).

Also, I had quite a few people interested in finding some good deals on canning jars - the best prices I could find were through www.azurestandard.com. I do love this co-op, as they have so many great things - organic, gluten-free, and self-reliant. Their prices are cheaper because they do not mark up for profit, only to cover costs to stay running. But, it is only a dollar or so cheaper; that might be worth it for you, and it might not. Best prices still continue to be garage sales, and thrift stores, generally marked for $.25 or $.50 each. A screamin' deal if you ask me. Just make sure -if you are buying second-hand- that you check for any chips, scratches, etc. as these cannot be used for canning.

Raw Honey - I'm contacting the raw honey man from Wyoming to set up an order somewhere in August-October. Don't know when it'll happen as he sets the time, not me. But, I'll keep you informed for sure! :)

And lastly, we got our apples last year from Washington, and they were great, but this year, we have found a farm to work with us from our neighbors in Utah! We are so excited to have found someone closer to our locale, and supposedly, Utah apples are the best!! Again, I will keep you posted for this order.

My husband met some friends at work that are trying to further their knowledge and skills in the sense of preparedness and self-reliance. They presented each other with challenges to work on, in the hopes that friends might be able to motivate each other. Our challenge was to be able to make our own bread (and share it). Their challenge was to learn and practice 4 ways of preservation. I am beginning a blog (as soon as I get the internet) to share these ideas, tips, and orders that I send over email, and would like to challenge everyone on this list the same challenge we gave to our friends. Study and practice 4 ways to preserve something, send your experience back to me, and I'll post it on my blog!! I hope that this will be a fun way to share our knowledge with each other and create a nice backbone to our self-reliant community! :)

I have so many new things to share and hope to have the internet soon! I'll keep you posted!!

Elizabeth
poohnda(at)hotmail(dot)com

Note by Lisa: When Elizabeth sets up her blog, I will post it and add it to the side bar labeled "Helpful Websites"

Saturday, July 9, 2011

If consumers are having a difficult time finding the Canning Discovery Kit in the canning aisle of grocery, mass or hardware stores, we also have an online special available. They can order online at FreshPreserving.com. The special is a Canning Discovery Kit plus two free gifts, samples of the Fiesta Salsa Mix and the RealFruit™ Classic Pectin. In addition, there is free shipping on this offer! The promotion code is: VTCDK11 and is valid until Sept 30. Please feel free to share this online promo code with your community.

Note by Lisa: I have seen this kit at Walmart on Marks street in Henderson. It is just the kit without the Fiesta Salsa Mix or Pectin.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Due to the abundance of beautiful tomatoes growing at the Cowboy Trail Farm, Marilyn from Organic Edibles is adding a SECOND Tomato canning workshop!

What: LET'S CAN SOME TOMATOES !

When: Sunday, July 24, 2011 8:30 AM

Price: $30.00 per person

Where: Cowboy Trail Farm

6550 Cowboy Trail NW (off 215 & Bradley)

Las Vegas, NV 89131

If you've ever wanted to learn how to preserve your food, don't miss this Workshop.

Our 1st in a series of Food Preservation Workshops will begin in July. We will feature Cowboy Trail Farm’s Organic TOMATOES and teach a variety of ways to preserve them so they can be enjoyed year round.

All equipment, utensils, and spices will be provided as well as canning jars and lids Each participant will have hands-on experience and go home with a share of the completed jars. We will also be enjoying Marilyn’s famous sundried basil tomatoes! There will be take-home recipes, handouts, and other canning resources available.